Hamas Leader Khaled Mash'al's Declaration That the "Tahdiya" Is Over

Following are excerpts from an interview with Hamas Leader Khaled Mash'al, which aired on Al-Quds TV on December 14, 2008 (two weeks before the Israeli attack in Gaza):

Khaled Mash'al: The tahdiah ["calm"] was limited to six months, ending on December 19. It should be noted that the enemy did not comply with the terms of the tahdiah, and that the siege still pressures our people. Therefore, we in Hamas, and I think most of the [other] forces, [say] loud and clear that after December 19, 2008, the tahdiah will end, and will not be renewed.

Interviewer: This may be a scoop. You are declaring that there will be no tahdiah after it ends on December 19...

Khaled Mash'al: The tahdiah will not be renewed, but we, as a resistance force on the ground, will act in accordance to the circumstances in the field, and in keeping with our resistance to the occupation and defense of our people.